Research to target creative economy Arts impact crux of Maine study

LEWISTON – How much of an impact do creative industries have on the Maine economy? Researchers for the Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine soon will find out as they embark on a landmark study of the creative economy in Maine.

“If this goes well we will know more about the creative economy in Maine than virtually any other state knows,” Richard Barringer, a professor at the Muskie school, told members of the steering committee for the Blaine House Conference on the Creative Economy, which met at the historic Bates Mills complex Friday.

The study will build on existing data from the New England Council’s 2000 report, “The Creative Economy: The Role of Arts in New England’s Economic Competitiveness,” which gauged the collective impact of nonprofit cultural organizations, entrepreneurs and workers in creativity-based industries, and individual artists.

“I really expect that the results of this research will have significant regional implications and quite possibly national implications as well,” Barringer said. “I think it’s going to be really rewarding.”

The Maine study is the first of its kind, and the results will be a key component of the Blaine House conference, which will take place in May at Bates Mills. Garrett Kimberly, project coordinator for the Boston-based Creative Economy Council, said that Maine is at the cutting edge of such research.

“Maine really exceeds the work being done in other states,” he told the group of 30 people.

Organizers hope the conference will keep Maine at the forefront, by educating people in the private and public sectors about the creative economy concept, developing strategies and policies to revitalize communities through the arts and culture, and adapting urban research findings on the creative economy to a rural area.

“It’s creating not only a new product, but a new consciousness,” Barringer said.

P. James Dowe, president of Bangor Savings Bank, said the educational component will be key. He came into the steering committee with little knowledge of the creative economy concept, but the more he learned about it, the more he understood its viability.

“We need to understand the risks of being involved in supporting these kinds of creative economy enterprises and provide the capital to allow them to grow and prosper,” Dowe said. “I think it’s getting easier because we’re starting to understand these kinds of enterprises. I think we’re seeing some that have gotten started small and grown to be very successful.”

Transformit Inc. of Gorham, which designs and manufactures stretched-fabric structures for trade shows, department stores and special events, is one such enterprise. Its founder, artist Cynthia Thompson, is a member of the committee, and one of the entrepreneurs who is thriving.

“In many cases you may not find traditional business plans. You may not find traditional products and services or traditional financial reporting. It requires education,” Dowe said. “There’s a little bit of faith that’s going to have to go into this effort.”

One of the main goals, the group agreed, is to show economic developers and policy-makers how 200 artists and artisans can fuel the economy as much as, or more than, 200 people employed in a call center.

That’s part of the message that Bangor architect John Rohman and other committee members will spread in a series of regional forums in Biddeford, Ellsworth, Wilton, Portland, Bangor, Calais, Lewiston and Presque Isle. These forums will introduce local leaders, businesspeople and artisans to the creative economy concept and whet their appetite for the conference.

“We’re bringing it as close as possible to the local area,” said Peter Rinck of Rinck Advertising, “because that’s where you’re going to begin a very stimulating conversation.”

Kristen Andresen is a Style Desk writer. She can be reached at kandresen@bangordailynews.net. For more information on the Blaine House Conference on the Creative Economy, visit www.state.me.us /spo/sp/creativeecon.php.